‘Sideways’ camaraderie continues

Writer-director Alexander Payne received numerous accolades from critics’ organizations, as well as the Oscar and Golden Globe with writing partner Jim Taylor, for the screenplay of “Sideways,” a darkly comic road movie about two buddies -- a washed-up actor about to be married and a divorced wine snob -- who go on a trip to the Santa Barbara wine country.

So it seems a little odd that the filmmaker didn’t do a commentary track on the DVD of “Sideways” (Fox, $30), which goes on sale today. Granted, he’s not entirely missing from the entertaining digital edition. Payne offers some glib on-screen remarks in the making-of featurette and writes caustic explanations as to why each of the seven deleted scenes that appear on the disc was cut from the final print.

The best of these deleted scenes finds Jack (Thomas Haden Church) taking Miles (Paul Giamatti) to the mall to buy him athletic shoes. Many will want to avoid the scene in which Miles hits a dog.

Church and Giamatti have stepped up to the plate with a riotous commentary track in which their engaging chemistry comes across just as it did on screen. They are funny, bright, a bit naughty and filled with self-deprecating comments on such matters as their expanding waistlines, receding hairlines and sagging breasts.

Also new this week:

“Spanglish” (Sony, $29): Writer-director James L. Brooks’ film received mixed reviews and tepid response from audiences. Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Paz Vega and Cloris Leachman headline the comedy-drama. Some may find the extras on the DVD more satisfactory than the movie, thanks to Brooks’ blunt commentary with editor Richard Marks and co-editor Tia Nolan, concerning the film’s long editing process -- they even had 13 audience previews -- and how the concept and tone changed.

Brooks and company also provide commentary on deleted scenes and on excerpts from casting sessions. There’s also an HBO making-of documentary and a delicious look at the making of the world’s greatest sandwich, with chef Thomas Keller.

“Elektra” (Fox, $29): Jennifer Garner resurrects her Marvel Comic superhero character from 2003’s “Daredevil” in this poorly received action-thriller. The digital edition also is tepid -- a behind-the-scenes featurette, a few deleted scenes, a look inside the editing room with director Rob Bowman and Garner’s taped appearance at Comic-Con.

“Jay-Z: Fade to Black” (Paramount, $30) Hip-hop fans will enjoy this concert film that captured the rapper’s 2003 “retirement party” at Madison Square Garden. Extras include a deleted scene and a making-of featurette.

“Sacred Planet” (Disney, $20): Imax movies lose a lot on the small screen, and this 2004 travelogue narrated by Robert Redford is no exception. But the images of the American deserts, the Borneo rain forests and the African plains are still beautiful. The DVD includes a behind-the-scenes featurette and informative commentary from director Jon Long.

“Dirty War” (HBO, $27) Gripping, controversial British-made docudrama about what happens when an Islamic terrorist group sets off two “dirty bombs” filled with radioactive material in Central London. The digital version features thought-provoking commentary from writer-director Daniel Percival and writer Lizzie Mickery.

“Bill Maher: Be More Cynical” (HBO, $20): The outspoken comic takes on George Bush, Al Gore, the war on drugs and children in this comedy concert that aired on HBO in 2000.

Coming soon:

April 12: “Ocean’s Twelve,” “Hotel Rwanda,” “Bad Education,” “The Woodsman,” “Criminal,” “Suspect Zero” and “Dig!”

April 19: “Meet the Fockers,” “House of Flying Daggers,” “Love Song for Bobby Long,” “Birth,” “Undertow” and “Stephen King’s Riding the Bullet”

April 26: “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Blade: Trinity,” “The Assassination of Richard Nixon,” “Darkness” and “Emile”

May 3: “National Treasure,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “The Chorus” and “Enduring Love”

May 10: “In Good Company,” “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou,” “Racing Stripes,” “Assault on Precinct 13,” “The Merchant of Venice” and “Alone in the Dark”

May 17: “Kinsey,” “The Sea Inside,” “Son of the Mask,” “White Noise,” “Tarnation” and “Team America: World Police”

May 24: “The Aviator,” “Are We There Yet?,” “A Very Long Engagement” and “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie”

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DVD sales

The 10 top-selling DVDs in the week ending March 27. Rankings are compiled from a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Blockbuster and Circuit City.

*--* 1. “The Incredibles” 2. “Finding Neverland” 3. “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” 4. “Bambi: Special Edition” 5. “Fat Albert” 6. “Ladder 49” 7. “Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1” 8. “Napoleon Dynamite” 9. “The Notebook” 10. “Shark Tale” *--* Source: DVDExclusive.com